An Affordable Option for Expansive Properties

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Source: Angi.com estimate for average price by fence type.

Unlike other systems, with SpotOn, the cost of your dog’s fence will stay the same, whatever the size of your property.

Expert review:  100 acre property owner compares dog fence options

Learn why Top Dog Tips considers SpotOn "the perfect dog containment system" for their large, off-the-grid property in rural Maine.

Physical dog fences

The most common option is a standard physical fence – chain link, vinyl, or wood are a few popular choices. According to Home Guide, the average wire fence will cost $2 per foot, vinyl around $15 per foot, and wood about $25 per foot. They estimate that 1 acre would cost between $1,050 for barbed wire and $7,000 for a split wood rail fence. This is just the cost for materials assuming you can build the fence yourself. Installation costs will vary widely by region, but can add $500-$5000 in costs for an acre. The nice thing about a physical fence is that it will likely add value to your property and, depending on the style, might even keep some wild animals out.

Wireless dog fence categories

If you can’t build a physical fence or don’t want one, you can consider one of the main high tech dog fence choices. There are in-ground, buried wire fences, wireless fences with base stations, and GPS dog fences.

In-ground, buried wire fence

Invisible Fence® is the most popular buried wire fence and is installed by a professional. For 1 acre, it can cost between $2,000-$2,500 depending on your region and the version you get. There are DIY versions of this from PetSafe that you can install yourself for much less. Plan to spend the weekend digging a three-inch-deep trench and laying the wire. Keep in mind that while these systems can be in any custom shape and cover up to 25 acres, they are difficult to use in very rocky terrain or through areas with water. Also, customers report that they can often break, requiring a call to the installer to come fix for additional fees. In addition, the signal is emitted as a circle around the wire, so some tall dogs or high-jumping dogs can jump over the signal. During winter, piles of snow can also make it easy to escape by jumping over the signal. Unfortunately, these systems are not portable and most people leave them when they move.

Wireless fence (powered by a base station)

A more portable option is a wireless fence. PetSafe makes a few different models. These have a base station that must be plugged in which emits a circular radio frequency to contain your dog. They usually can only cover up to ¾ of an acre space. However, make sure that the circular radius does not extend into danger areas like a driveway or road. You can take wireless fences with you to a second home or when you move which many users find convenient. This type of fence is significantly cheaper than the buried wire versions, but customers do report the wireless fences to be less reliable than buried wire. Often, large structures like an out building or trees can interfere with the radio signal.

The SpotOn GPS Fence is more than just a dog fence. It’s a GPS-based solution that offers tracking and containment all in one, keeping your dog safe.